What is determination?

Sometimes it feels like a super power, not quite flying, but much better than the ability to transform into a puddle. It magically empowers you, and tahda! The things you want to get done are done! Some people are born with it, or receive it by strange and decidedly unpleasant events happening to them. You don’t have it? Well don’t bother trying. But you might get lucky and have something imbue you with willpower one day.

No, it’s not magic.

Or it’s like a muscle. Something to exercise and build up over time. You’re feeling listless today? Well just try to work on things a bit, and tomorrow will be better. Just keep striving towards your goals, and you’ll build willpower along the way.

But this isn’t really what determination is. It’s how it works. And how do you get the willpower to build willpower anyway?

Determination is prioritizing your long term goals over your short term discomfort.

Determination is prioritizing your long term goals over your short term discomfort. And you should prioritize your goals. If they weren’t important, they shouldn’t be goals (and you should make sure that they still are).

The truth is, your short term discomfort isn’t important. What are the negative long term impacts due to spending more time studying? Or going to the gym?

But what about over the short term? Working more reduces your happiness. Although most people take this as a given, I’m not so sure. There are tasks that make you miserable to be sure. And given a choice, most people prefer watching tv instead of running.

And yet, that is only the shallowest form of happiness. It flits in and out of your life depending on your day. Or traffic. Or any number of inconsequential things. But fulfillment, the deeper kind of happiness does not. And fulfillment does not come from watching TV. Or from nice cars. Or fancy meals. It comes from working.

So when you are struggling,

Remind yourself why your goals are important. Because they are important. Take some time to understand why. Appreciate how you’ll benefit from accomplishing them, or making progress on them, or simply working on them.

And understand that the pain you feel does not matter. It won’t matter to you in a week, or even by tomorrow. Take a step back, and it won’t matter to you right now. The only reason that it feels so important is that you’re constantly being reminded of it.